Training, information, and encouragement for new amateur radio operators.

Amateur Radio

Here at NewHams.info we don’t pretend to be the ultimate authority or only game in town. While we may have a lock on this website domain name, there are other truly useful and interesting sources with good information for new or prospective ham radio operators and we want to share some of these with you here.

The ARRL produces an audio podcast entitled So Now What?It is a “bi-weekly podcast geared to those who are just getting started on their Amateur Radio adventure. Whether you’re new to the hobby or looking to get back on the air after an absence, we know that you’ve got lots of questions.”

You can access and/or subscribe on Apple and Android to listen in with mobile phones or you can link to a web stream via Blubrry here.

A page on N0JI’s website is entitled, For New Hams. It has quite a bit of detail; topics include:

“Lid” is ham-speak to denote a poor operator; one who is inept at the practice of the radio amateur art. It is someone with very poor operating technique, a newbie or an experienced ham that acts like a neophyte. This old term likely originated from the days of wired telegraphy.

A previous post entitled, What Can I Say?, presented more don’ts than dos, which was appropriate considering the topic. This is a good time to review it.

In addition to those prohibitions, we’ll expand on the topic and add a few more things a good ham doesn’t do, assuming you don’t want to be known as a lid. Most are things a good ham should avoid saying. In fact, this article was originally entitled, What Should I Not Say?

There are some bad habits certain hams need to break, mainly because it demonstrates ignorance and carelessness. Other amateurs may not take you seriously if you practice these things. Numerous ham websites list pet peeves containing these bad practices (a few are linked below).

Some liddish behavior is understandable or excusable in a brand new ham but habits form quickly. These are generally frowned upon and the perpetrator may find themselves publicly shamed (in a hammy context). Don’t let it happen to you!

Here is a short list of things a ham should not do:

Use of CB lingo and police/public safety codes. “10-4″,”what’s your 20?”, and “breaker” are particularly egregious.

Checking into a net or answering a CQ without identifying phonetically. But once you are acknowledged you should ID without phonetics.

The new ham may be unsure what they can or cannot talk about over the radio.

Surprisingly, there are few limitations in the Part 97 rules governing prohibited transmission, and we will review these below.

While there aren’t any rules against discussing sex, politics, and religion, these and other controversial topics are best avoided in general radio work. Now there might be nets or affinity groups that meet on the radio to discuss controversial things. Participation is fine but be prepared for hecklers who don’t agree with or appreciate the topic.

Foul language is a big no-no, as you might expect:

Best to avoid any crude words or topics along those lines.

Another prohibition is using amateur radio to do business for yourself or a third party:

You must never be paid to use your radio, except as narrowly outlined above.

Even selling your own goods is prohibited, although there is an exception for ham gear (occasionally):

Monthly or weekly swap nets are OK.

You should never play music or sing or whistle over the air:

Play it safe by keeping background music or audio (including your phone ringtone) muted when keying your mic.

Unlikely that you would want to do so, but you should never use secret words or codes to speak over the air:

Finally, never make general announcements that do not involve other hams:

Avoid transmitting anything that might be considered of interest to a wide audience, especially a one-way message with no reply.

Common sense should prevail; avoid controversial topics, don’t cuss and don’t do business over the air. That leaves plenty of room for things to talk about.

What flavor of ham are you? Honey-baked, smoked, prosciutto, chipped… Just as there are many varieties of the pork meat, so there are different kinds of amateur radio ham.

Ham radio isn’t just about talking on the radio. Radio amateurs use different modes and frequencies. There are also many unique activities and special interest sub-sets in amateur radio. One or more should appeal to the new or prospective ham.

We present some of these here to whet your appetite or encourage further interest in our hobby. Maybe one of these becomes your ham radio passion or niche. For many hams their focus changes from making voice contacts to something more specific. Amateurs tend to be an adventurous lot and many are eager to try something new. Radio work has a myriad of possibilities. And for many of these, you don’t need fancy or expensive equipment:

Awards- Recognition from various groups can be achieved for different accomplishments. Two of the big ones are the ARRL worked all states [WAS] award (confirmed contacts in all 50 states) and their DXCC award (confirmed contacts in 100 countries).

Fox hunting- Radio direction finding to locate a hidden transmitter. Can be competitive or just for fun.

Satellite operation- Using repeaters on orbiting amateur radio satellites for quick long-distance contacts.

ARISS- Communicating with the International Space Station via VHF radio.

ATV/SSTV- Amateur Television or Slow-Scan Television to communicate using video exchanges.

Contesting- There is no shortage of opportunities for the competitive ham. Most weekends have some sort of contest scheduled for hams to make as many contacts as possible under various modes and guidelines.

Digital modes- Don’t like to talk over the radio and don’t want to learn Morse code? Digital modes can give you the thrill of long-distance contacts without a mic or key; you need only a computer and simple interface to a HF transceiver to work digital modes.

The Who had a hit tune entitled Going Mobile that may be playing in your head right now. While the song celebrates the joy of living in a mobile home and traveling caravan-style in the UK, going mobile to hams means using radio equipment in your vehicle.

While some hams have HF radio setups in their cars, mobile predominantly means local VHF/UHF communication. Besides bring able to talk to our ham buddies while driving around, 2m/70cm capability is particularly useful in case of disaster or other emergency communication (EmComm) situations. It is perfect for storm spotting and certain public service events.

Mobile operation is popular and important enough that there are a number of US license exam questions involving the topic as you will see below.

Installing and using amateur radio equipment in one’s personal vehicle is too large a topic to cover here so we’ll simply advise you to research details on your own. Talk to fellow hams and see what/how/why they installed their own gear.

The internet is also a vast resource for [mostly good] info . One noteworthy site dedicated to mobile ham operation is managed by Alan Applegate, K0BG, and is located here. It contains exceptionally useful info on most topics presented below. We encourage you to use this site as a primary reference for your own mobile radio installation and operation. The ABCs topic is the best place to start.

Before embarking on any of this yourself, there are several important points to consider:

Radio type

Radio control location

Radio mounting

Radio power wiring

Antenna type and mounting

Radio audio/speaker

Transmitting while driving

Hands-free/Distracted driving laws

Noise and interference

We will scratch the surface of each of these topics here:

Radio type- Choose a mobile radio that best fits your needs, desires, and budget based on several factors:

Note that while a hand-held transceiver (HT) can be used in a car, it is significantly limited by its antenna and transmit power. Both can be improved (linear amplifier and external antenna) but if you really want good mobile performance you should consider a purpose-specific mobile radio.

Radio control location- Modern mobile transceivers typically feature removable front panels where the operator controls can be positioned in a more convenient, ergonomic, and safe location using a smaller footprint. Continue reading →

If you are a new ham (or an aspiring one) you have probably noticed Radio Operator license plates (tags) on vehicles in your area and perhaps elsewhere.

According to a Wikipedia topic, “All U.S. states offer specialized license plates for licensed amateur radio operators, in many cases at no extra charge or at a discount compared to standard vanity plates. Among the stated reasons in various state statutes for providing special amateur radio plates are to recognize amateur radio operators for their service, and to enhance visibility of amateur radio operators in an emergency. The owner’s radio call sign is used instead of a standard-issue serial.”

In addition to the USA, many other countries also issue specialty vehicle registration plates to licensed amateur radio operators, purportedly to facilitate their movement during an emergency. Notably, ham plates are not issued in continental Europe; please advise if this is incorrect or has changed. One commenter from the UK has reported that they are available but expensive there.

Before you elect to get ham radio license plates for your own vehicle(s), consider the pros and cons of having them.

There are several advantages in having radio operator plates on your vehicle:

A fun form of specialty plate and the number is easy to remember (your call sign)

Helps other hams identify you

Opportunity to discuss amateur radio with a curious public

Possibly give you more credibility when driving into a disaster area

Likely at lower cost than any other form of vanity plate

And some disadvantages:

Makes it easier for the public to locate you if they want to, if you are sensitive to this issue (alternative is to give the government a PO box instead of a street address)

Negative publicity for ham radio if you are a bad driver

Potentially makes vehicle contents more attractive to thieves

You need to get new plates if you change your call sign

Interestingly, in Texas and at least three other US states, radio amateurs are permitted to have their call sign on the license plates of multiple vehicles that they own, in effect Continue reading →

Often a new ham’s first radio is a handheld transceiver (HT). A HT represents the lowest-cost entry point to amateur radio and is relatively easy to set up and use. Your first on-air experience as a licensed ham may involve a HT on a local VHF/UHF repeater, and that’s fine.

But don’t settle for just a HT as supplied by the manufacturer for your early ham radio experience. You are almost certainly going to be frustrated and disappointed at its performance to the point of giving up on ham radio and wondering why all these hams are so enthusiastic about the hobby.

Don Keith N4KC makes this point eloquently in his ‘HT Trap’ article where he discusses how easily a new ham can get discouraged with amateur radio because of the limitations of a stock HT. I have observed this as well while helping new hams get set up in a local EmComm organization.

Huge improvements in HT performance or ease of use can be accomplished with three accessories.